Town have confirmed that central defender Christophe Berra is leaving the club.
The 32-year-old is out of contract and has long been keen to return to Scotland to be closer to his young daughter. The Blues have decided not to take an option to keep the ex-Hearts and Wolves man for a further season to allow him to return home.
Speaking in September, Berra said: "I’ve had a great time down here and as I’ve said before my daughter is four and at some point I’d want to go back home. That’s obvious — all my family and friends are there.”
Speaking to the club site after confirming his departure, he added: "I really enjoyed my four years at Ipswich and I've only got good things to say about the club. I wish everyone there all the success in the future.”
Manager Mick McCarthy initially signed Berra for £2.3 million from Hearts when Wolves manager in 2009, then brought him to Portman Road on a free transfer in the summer of 2013.
"It’s a situation we have been aware of for some time,” McCarthy told the club site.
Town can confirm that Christophe Berra will be leaving the Club for personal reasons. We thank Christophe for his efforts in an #itfc shirt pic.twitter.com/DmwXv4cBNJ
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) May 9, 2017
"He is not doing anything devious, he just wants to spend more time with his daughter and anyone with family can respect that.
"Christophe has been fantastic for us. He has been one of the best defenders in the Championship over the last four years and I didn’t want to lose him but I understand fully why he wants to go back closer to home and we wish him well.”
Speaking on Friday, he said that if football was the only issue he would have kept the 35-times-capped Scotland international at Portman Road.
#itfc's very own Braveheart is leaving Suffolk....
Here we remember his best bits in a Town shirt 🔵⚽ï¸ðŸ‘ðŸ»
All the best, Christophe! pic.twitter.com/QNhQ2EtDpT– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) May 9, 2017
"Yes, no question he’d be here,” he said. "As a defender, he’s one of the best I’ve worked with. Consistent, plays games, he’s quick, he’s good in the air. He’s just been a pretty much ever-present whenever he’s been fit.
"There was as spell he didn’t play at Wolves but I don’t know how many games he’s played under me, quite a lot I think, 300 maybe.”
He added: "He’s a really top defender, he’s been a really good servant to both clubs, certainly while I’ve been there, and he’s a good guy as well. He’s just a really top professional. I can’t speak highly enough of him actually.”
Berra's former club Hearts have been repeatedly linked over the last year, while Rangers, who were keen to sign him before he joined the Blues, were reported to be interested in January.
The Edinburgh-born defender made 184 starts and one sub appearance for the Blues, scoring 14 goals. He was named the Supporters Player of the Year in 2013/14, his first season at the club.